21 Feb. 2019 The Vande Bharat Express, India's new fastest train, was inaugurated on Friday, February 15th on its maiden journey from Delhi to Varanasi. On its return to the capital the next day, the train struck a cow, delaying its arrival by several hours.

Collisions between vehicles of all kinds and animals occur frequently across Inde. Such was the case last Saturday in Uttar Pradesh with the country's new high-speed rail. The train struck a cow while making the return journey toward Delhi, the day after its inauguration. According to Indian Railways, the accident cut electrical power to four cars and damaged the braking system, forcing the train to remain immobilized for several hours. "The train was ultimately able to reach the capital safely before its first commercial service on Sunday (February 17th)," confirmed Smita Vats Sharma, spokesperson for the organization, speaking to AFP.

23 Million Daily Commuters Affected

The Vande Bharat Express was built at the government's initiative as part of the "Make in Inde" program aimed at modernizing rail transport across the subcontinent. In Inde, the 23 million passengers who board trains daily had previously relied on equipment built during British colonial times.

According to Orange, this train travels at 180 km/h, allowing passengers to cover the 850 kilometers separating New Delhi from Varanasi in 8 hours instead of 14. Other destinations will also become available.

Thibault Bourru

Thibault BourruA passionate lover of literature and Asia, Thibault shares his experiences through his writing.